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Historic world class wood collection is returned to the RDS

The voluntary hand-over of the historic, Powerscourt Collection of World Timbers took place against the background of the UN International Day of Forests which was celebrated worldwide yesterday 21 March 2017.

22nd March 2017

Killarney-based environmental/human rights education charity Just Forests has returned the Powerscourt Timber Collection to the Royal Dublin Society (RDS).

The voluntary hand-over of the historic, Powerscourt Collection of World Timbers took place against the background of the UN International Day of Forests which was celebrated worldwide yesterday 21 March 2017.

The collection featured prominently in the Killarney Outlet Centre during the very successful Killarney Celebration of Trees festivities in May 2016.

“It was most appropriate that the collection should be returned on the day that the United Nations (21st March) have designated annually at the International Day of Forests and as the theme to mark this year’s event was all about the significant contribution wood plays in the economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being of society.” According to Tom Roche, founder and voluntary coordinator of Just Forests.

Forests cover one third of the Earth's land mass, performing vital functions around the world. Around 1.6 billion people - including more than 2,000 indigenous cultures - depend on forests for their livelihoods, medicines, fuel, food and shelter.

Forests are the most biologically-diverse ecosystems on land, home to more than 80% of the terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects.

Yet despite all of these priceless ecological, economic, social and health benefits, global deforestation continues at an alarming rate - 13 million hectares of forest are destroyed annually. Deforestation accounts for 12 to 20 percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
The International Day of Forests is held annually on 21 March to raise awareness of the importance of forests to people and their vital role in poverty eradication, environmental sustainability and food security.

Sustainable management of all types of forests are at the heart of unlocking challenges of conflict-affected, developing and developed countries, for the benefit of current and future generations.

The Powerscourt World Timbers was collected by Viscount Powerscourt between 1930-33 and is a priceless collection, according to Roche. Just Forests wish for this world-class and historic timber collection of 800 of the world’s most commercial timber species (some of which are commercially extinct) is that it be displayed in a prominent place so that all of Irish society can learns just how important timber and forests are to our continued survival as a species. The collection also includes a number of historically interesting woods one such sample dating back to 1440.